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Introduction <p>Postharvest loss (PHL) remains a significant challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for smallholder farmers dependent on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods and food security. Yet, PHL’s impact on the mental and physical health of farmers remains underexplored. Guided by the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) and the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF), this study examines the relationship between PHL and self-rated mental and physical health among smallholder farmers in the Upper West Region (UWR) of Ghana, considering the impact of climatic stressors.</p> Methods <p>A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1,033 smallholder farmers across five districts in the UWR. Ordered logistic regression was used to assess the associations between PHL for cereals, roots/tubers, and legumes and self-rated mental and physical health, while controlling for socio-economic and environmental factors.</p> Results <p>Increased PHL for cereals was associated with poor mental health (OR = 1.006, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and poor physical health (OR = 1.004, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Similar patterns were found for roots/tubers (mental: OR = 1.003,<i> p</i> &lt; 0.001; physical: OR = 1.002, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and legumes (mental: OR = 1.006, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001; physical: OR = 1.007, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Additional risks included rising debt, long-distance farming, and climatic stressors such as droughts and floods. Conversely, household joint decision-making, farm credit access, fair pricing, transportation, quality storage, postharvest training, and timely extension services were less associated with poor mental and physical health.</p> Conclusion <p>PHL adversely affects smallholder farmers’ mental and physical health, compounded by socio-economic and climatic pressures. Addressing PHL requires integrated interventions to improve agricultural practices, strengthen socio-economic resilience, and support farmer well-being in Ghana and similar contexts.</p>

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Mental and Physical Health Risks Associated with Postharvest Loss Among Smallholder Farmers in Semi-Arid Northwest Ghana

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月4日

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  • Cornelius K. A. Pienaah,
  • Jemima Nomunume Baada,
  • Roger Antabe,
  • Isaac Luginaah

摘要

Introduction

Postharvest loss (PHL) remains a significant challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for smallholder farmers dependent on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods and food security. Yet, PHL’s impact on the mental and physical health of farmers remains underexplored. Guided by the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) and the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF), this study examines the relationship between PHL and self-rated mental and physical health among smallholder farmers in the Upper West Region (UWR) of Ghana, considering the impact of climatic stressors.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1,033 smallholder farmers across five districts in the UWR. Ordered logistic regression was used to assess the associations between PHL for cereals, roots/tubers, and legumes and self-rated mental and physical health, while controlling for socio-economic and environmental factors.

Results

Increased PHL for cereals was associated with poor mental health (OR = 1.006, p < 0.001) and poor physical health (OR = 1.004, p < 0.001). Similar patterns were found for roots/tubers (mental: OR = 1.003, p < 0.001; physical: OR = 1.002, p < 0.001) and legumes (mental: OR = 1.006, p < 0.001; physical: OR = 1.007, p < 0.001). Additional risks included rising debt, long-distance farming, and climatic stressors such as droughts and floods. Conversely, household joint decision-making, farm credit access, fair pricing, transportation, quality storage, postharvest training, and timely extension services were less associated with poor mental and physical health.

Conclusion

PHL adversely affects smallholder farmers’ mental and physical health, compounded by socio-economic and climatic pressures. Addressing PHL requires integrated interventions to improve agricultural practices, strengthen socio-economic resilience, and support farmer well-being in Ghana and similar contexts.